Trial set in Roseville jewelry store shoot-out

A Jan. 15 trial date was set Thursday for 22-year-old man accused of participating in an attempted robbery of a Roseville store thwarted by the gun-firing owner.

Robert Tillman faces trial in front of Judge James Biernat Jr. of Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens after Biernat rejected a defense motion to “quash” the charges.

Tillman is charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault with intent to rob and felony firearm for the June 2011 incident at Coin Cove Jewelry on Gratiot Avenue.

Police say Tillman was one of two masked bandits who ordered store occupants to the floor, and one of the assailants fired a shot into the air. The store owner fired at the intruders, one of whom returned fire as he or she fled. No one was injured in the shoot-out.

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There has been no arrest of a second suspect, said Roseville Deputy Police Chief Don Glandon.

DNA on a glove and sweatshirt found in the area that police believe are connected to the crime showed Tillman’s DNA, which was on record due to a prior conviction, prosecutors say.

Tillman’s defense attorney, Joseph Kosmala, said nothing else ties his client to the crime. He noted that DNA from three other people was found on the glove and DNA from two others was found on the sweat shirt.

The store last Fourth of July was the target of an arson fire, but it was extinguished by rain and caused minimal damage. The owner offered a $3,000 reward and a surveillance photo was released, but the suspect was not found, Glandon said. He said there is no evidence that connects the attempted robbery and arson.